Here’s the Best Career Advice You Aren’t Getting (and It’s So True)

Let’s be honest—we all need a little motivation to work hard, especially when we hit a wall or fail at a task. We’re talking those times when you feel like you just need that familiar voice that’s been there, and can offer that extra push for you at work.

But one of the most important pieces of career advice isn’t being shared, according to Sallie Krawcheck, co-founder, and CEO of Ellevest, a women-focused digital investment platform. Actually, it isn’t even really being talked about at all.

In just two sentences, Krawcheck shared some incredibly profound career advice. Ready for it?

Instead, they determine your capacity for risk, based on the goals you choose (start a family, buy a home, take time off); and the timeline for those goals. Once they know your goals and where you’re at now, they customize portfolios to each of those goals.

I know what you’re thinking because trust me, I’ve thought it too: “investing is too complicated,” “I’m not up for the risk,” and “I don’t have enough money to start investing.”

After all, doesn’t investing involve a lot of work and learning lots of new concepts and jargon, and doesn’t it open you up to a lot of risks and losing all your money?

Um. No.

“No one has ever lost all of their money investing in a diversified investment portfolio.* And even if it requires some extra effort, it’s so so worth it.

Here’s just some of what it can do:

It can build your wealth — not by a little, but by enough to make a real difference in your life longterm. The numbers: if you’re earning $85,000 a year, growing in line with women’s salary curves, saving 20% of that annually (as we have recommended per the 50/30/20 rule), and putting that money in a saving account at the bank — after 40 years, you will have saved $1.5 million.*

If you instead invest that same amount, in a diversified investment portfolio, depending on markets, in 40 years you can have another $1 million, or $1.7 million, or more. We calculated this using up markets and down markets, and you end up with these amounts the majority of the time.*